Large-scale variability of ozone and aerosols in the summertime Arctic and sub-Arctic troposphere

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92JD00159· OSTI ID:6764842

Browell, E V; Butler, C F; Kooi, S A; Fenn, M A; Harriss, R C; Gregory, G L ^[1]

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1. NASA, Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA (United States) Science Applications International Corp., Hampton, VA (United States) New Hampshire Univ., Durham (United States)

The results of mesoscale and large-scale studies of the distribution of aerosols and O3 using primarily an airborne DIAL system are reported. The tropospheric composition at high latitudes is found to be strongly influenced by stratospheric intrusions. Regions of low-aerosol scattering and enhanced O3 mixing ratios are correlated with descending air from the lower stratosphere. Over 37 percent of the troposphere along the flight track at latitudes higher than 57 deg N had significantly enhanced O3 levels due to stratospheric intrusions, and in the 4-6 km latitude range the tropospheric extent of the enhanced O3 exceeded 56 percent. Ozone mixing ratios of 80 ppbv at 6 km are common, with vertical O3 gradients of over 11 ppbv/km observed across the base of strong intrusions. In the mixed layer over the tundra, O3 was in the 25-35 ppbv range with a gradient of 5.5 ppbv/km, while in the continental polar air masses, the average gradient in the lower troposphere is 7.4 ppbv/km, indicating more downward transport of O3 at higher latitudes. 55 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6764842
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 97; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AEROSOLS
AIR POLLUTION
ARCTIC REGIONS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHEMISTRY
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
MONITORING
OZONE
POLAR REGIONS
POLLUTION
SOLS
TROPOSPHERE